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A JOURNAL KEPT DURING THE SIEGE OF FORT 
WILLIAM HENRY, AUGUST, 1757. 



i;Y I.-' MIXIS MAYS, M. I). 



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A JOURNAL KEPT DURING THE SIEGE OF FORT 
WILLIAM HENRY, AUGUST, 1757. 

BY it MINIS HAYS, M. D. 

(Bead April 15, 1898.) 

One hundred and fifty years ago the French claimed all of North 
America from the Atlantic coast range to the Rocky mountains and 
from Mexico and the Gulf to the northernmost limit, and they had 
planted flourishing colonies at the mouth of the St. Lawrence and 
of the Mississippi to control these great waterways, with their 
tributaries, to the North and West. These vast possessions, which 
they called New France, had a white population of about 80,000 
souls. 

The thirteen British colonies were scattered along the Atlantic 
seaboard from Maine to Georgia, with a white population of about 
1,160,000, who were continually extending further and further 
inland and encroaching upon the undefined area beyond the moun- 
tains claimed by both French and English. To maintain their 
territorial claims by force of arms, with the aid of their numerous 
Indian allies, and to keep in check the British colonists with their 
vastly larger population, and to drive back those who were already 
intruding into the broad valley of the Ohio, the French estab- 
lished a chain of forts and trading posts from Canada to Louisiana. 
They recognized that the fork of the Ohio and Niagara were the 
gateways to the great West and they therefore strongly entrenched 
themselves at these points. Lake Champlain and Lake George on the 
direct line between Montreal and New York, controlling the gate- 
way to the Hudson, were also important strategic points for the 
mastery of which both French and English stubbornly contended. 
In September, 1755, Gen. Johnson defeated the French under 
Dieskau at the battle of Lake George, and in the following spring 

RKPRINTED FROM PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC, VOL. XXXVII, NO. 157. 



>W\^ 



144 HAYS — THE SIEGE OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY. [April 15, 

• 

Montcalm was sent out to command the French forces and to 
retrieve their fortunes. Ticonderoga at the head of Lake Cham- 
plain was their most advanced post, while the British troops were 
entrenched at Fort William Henry at the head of Lake George. 

Montcalm in planning his campaign for the summer of 1757 
•determined, with the aid of his Lidian allies, to drive the English 
back from Lake George, perhaps to capture Fort Edward, fourteen 
miles to the south, and even to make a demonstration against 
Albany. In the latter part of July he concentrated his forces at 
Ticonderoga, and on the ist of August, with about 7600 men, of 
whom more than 1600 were Indians, he started his expedition 
against Fort William Henry, which was commanded by Lieut. -Col. 
Monro, a brave Scotch veteran, and garrisoned by a force of little 
more than 2000 men. Gen. Webb was in command at Fort 
Edward with a force of about 1600 men, with half as many more 
•distributed at Albany and the intervening forts. He promised his 
assistance, and Col. Monro had every reason to expect it, when 
Fort William Henry was attacked, but he failed at the last moment 
to give that support which it was his duty to have rendered. The 
rest of the sad story is told in the accompanying Journal which was 
recently found among the papers of Col. James Burd in the pos- 
session of this Society. 

Col. James Burd was the third son of Edward Burd, a Scottish 
gentleman, who lived on his estate of Ormiston, near Edinburgh, 
by his wife, Jane Halliburton, a daughter of the Lord Provost of 
Edinburgh. He married Sarah Shippen, daughter of Edward Ship- 
pen, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He held a prominent position in 
the military forces of this colony, and at the time of the French attack 
•on Fort William Henry he commanded Fort Augusta at the fork of 
the Susquehanna on the site of the present town of Sunbury, which 
was one of the long chain of forts that had recently been built by 
the Province of Pennsylvania to protect its territory in the war with 
the French and Indians. 

Although the individual colonies maintained their independence 
they were forced to cooperate against the common foe, and the 
commanders of the frontier posts were kept advised of the move- 
ments of the enemy at all points along the line. The following 
interesting letter from Capt. Thomas Lloyd, also found among the 
Burd papers, conveyed to Col. Burd information in reference to 
the French attack on Fort William Henry : 



189S.] HAYS — THE SIEGE OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY. 145 

To Major James Burd, Esquire. 

Philadelphl\, August g, 1757. 

Sir : — We have just now reed, an Express from York informing 
that Governor De Lancy has marched with an Escort to be shortly 
follow'd by the whole Militia of that Government and a Demand 
made of a thousand from the Jerseys to the relief of Fort William 
Henry which is now invested by two thousand five Hundred french 
regulars four thousand five hundred Canadians and two thousand 
Indians with a Train of 36 Cannon and Five mortars against all 
which damn'd execrable Combination tis Impossible for that For- 
tress to hold out and the next news that arrives we expect will 
confirm their mastery of it. I need tell you no more than that I 
am Sir Yours etc, 

T. Lloyd. 

Endorsed as " Rec'd loth Sept. 1757." 

It can be readily understood that this accompanying Journal of 
the capture of Fort William Henry and the subsequent massacre 
its garrison had a deep personal interest to Col. Burd, which suffices 
to account for its having been copied and sent to him. Fortunately 
he was a man of methodical habits and appears to have made a cus- 
tom of filing and keeping all papers coming into his possession. 
Hence this copy has been preserved, while the original is unpub- 
lished and unknown, and has probably been lost or destroyed. 

The French records give full data concerning the capture of Fort 
William Henry, but accounts written by observers on the English 
side are very few and, with the exception of Col. Frye's Journal,* 
most meagre. The accompanying Journal by an unknown writer who 
was evidently an officer within the fort has considerable historical 
value in not only confirming Col. Frye's account, but also in 
furnishing some additional details to complete the picture of the 
bravery of Col. Monro, of the incapacity of the British commander 
at Fort Edward, and of the treacherous apathy of the French in the 
face of the savage cruelties committed by their Indian allies on their 
capitulated foe. 

1 7^Ae Port Folio, May, 1S19, p. 356. 



146 HAYS THE SIEGE Of FORT WILLIAM HENRY. [April 15, 

Copy of a Journal Kept During the Siege of Fort William 

Henry. 

Tuesday ") 

August 2'* 1757 J 

In the Evening Col. Young of the 3*^ Battalion of the Royal 
Americans and Col Fry of the N. England Forces came to the Camp 
at lake George with a reinforcement of iioo men Regulars and Pro- 
vincials making with what we had before upwards of 2400 men the 
whole under command of Col. Monro of the 35"" Regiment. 

Lieut. Forty of the 35'" Reg* and Cap' of one of ye gallies detached 
14 of his Sailors to reconitre the lake this Evening who returned 
about midnight and reported that they saw a large number of the 
Enemys Boats which gave them chace and had like to have been 
taken. During this night the Camp was frequently alarmed by the 
Enemys firing on our Centurys. 

Wednesday 3? Early this morning our Century discovered a 
large number of Boats on the lake close under a point of Land on 
the west shore distance about 5 miles upon which we fired our 
warning Guns ('32 pounders) a Signal agreed on upon the approach 
of the Enemy. The French fired at the fort from their Boats 
lying at the point but their Shot did not reach half way : At this 
point the Enemy landed their forces and Artillery. This morning 
we brought in our live Stock put them into the Picquet Store yard 
buJ being neglected afterwards strayed and fell into the Enemy's 
Hands. 

Cap' W"" Arbuthnot was ordered out with a Party of his N. Eng- 
land Forces to burn and destroy some Huts and Hedges on the 
west of the Fori, which he did with difficulty. Nine o' Clock dis- 
covered a number of French Regulars marching S. W. near the 
foot of a Hill distant about 1000 yds which we apprehended were 
intended to cut off our Communication with Fort Edward. Lieu* 
Collins of the Royal Regiment of Artillery gave orders to cannonade 
them as they marched which was done. Our rangers and a party 
of Provincials were Smartly engaged with enem.y S. W. of the Camp 
on the Ground w[h]ere S'"^ W"" Johnson engaged and beat the 
Enemy in the year 1755 and beat them off several times. 

Twelve ©'Clock we could plainly see from the Fort that the 
Enemy were throwing up an entrenchment and erecting a Battery 
at the distance of about 7 or 800 yards on a Clear Ground bearing 



189S.] HAYS — THE SIEGE OF FOET WILLIAM HENRY, 147 

N, B, W, Saw several large Boats coming to the Point w[h]ere the 
Enemy landed. 

Two o'clock Monsr Mont Calmn sent an officer with a Flag to 
demand the Fort but the brave Col? Monro rejected the Summons 
with Scorn. The Remainder of this day was spent in Bombarding 
the Enemys works, Capt. McCloud commanding and cannonad- 
ing. The Artillery fired Several Shot from the Camp which did 
great Service in beating back the Indians. One of our Balls fell 
on an Indian Hutt and killed many. 

Tuesday [j/r] 4*? Early this morning the Enemy's works were in 
great forwardness with a ten Gun Battery almost finished. Their 
Entrenchment approached towards the Fort thus '^^\^-'.^^^r^,^-^^>yKyK^^^ 
Saw several large Boats coming to the Point w[h]ere the Enemy 
landed from Ticonderoga : this day we had several Skirmishes from 
all quarters in which our people behaved with great Bravery, amor- 
tar being pointed towards another Indian Hutt fell on it and killed 
Several. During this day we cannonaded the French Battery and 
threw a large number of Shells into their Entrenchm*.' The 
Artillery at the Camp kept a Constant fire on the Enemy as they 
came to Attack our out Guards and Rangers who drove them off 
into the woods. The Rangers brought in an Enemy wounded 
Indian but he soon died. 

Friday 5*."^ This morning the Enemy began to cannonade our 
Forts with nine pieces of Cannon 18 & 12 pounders. It was some 
Time before they could find their mark. At Eleven they tried their 
Shells, mostly 13 Inches diameter, which fell short but towards the 
afternoon they got their distance very well, several of their Small 
Shells falling into the Parade. One of their Shott carried away 
the Pullyof our Flag Staff and the falling of our flag Much rejoyced 
the Enemy ; but it was soon hoisted tho' one of the men that was 
doing this had his head Shot off with a Ball, and another wounded. 
A part of the Enemy and their Indian [allies] advanced near our 
Camp on which the brave Cap* Waldo of the N. England forces 
went out to take Possession of a piece of rising Ground near the 
wood on which a brisk fire unsued on both sides. Col. Monro sent 
out a second party to Surround the Enemy, but they were forced 
back and the Enemy advanced up to our quarter Guard. Capt. 
M, Cloud brought his Cannon to bear upon them soon dispersed 
them. Here an unlucky accident happened, as some of our men 
were returning to Camp were taken for the enemy and fired upon by 



148 HAYS — THE SIEGE OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY. [April 15, 

which Several were killed & wounded. During this Attack poor 
Cap' Waldo was Shot and Soon Expired. Cap' Cunningham of 
the 35'? Reg' was wounded in the right arm. 

Saturday [6'!"] Last night the enemy carried on their Entrench- 
m'.° and Erected a Battery of lo Guns mostly i8 Pounders about 
6 or 700 yards from us bearing N. W, both of Cannon & Mortars. 
This was the hotest days action from all quarters ; tho' as yet our 
Garrison remained in high spirits expecting Sir W. Johnson with 
the Militia and Gen. Liman with the N. England Forces to the 
number of 3 or 4000 men which we heard v/ere on their march with 
some more Cannon. Would to God they were permitted to come 
as their Good will was not wanting. A party of Indians were seen 
advancing with great Speed towards the road that leads to fort 
Edward which Confirmed us in our Belief of a Relief. 

About II o'clock Mons!' Montcalm sent an officer with a Flag, 
with a letter that was intercepted by the above mentioned Indians 
from Gen! Webb wrote by his Aid-de-Camp M.'' Bartman to Col: 
Monro acquainting him that his Excellency could not give him his 
assistance as the Militia had not yet come up to Fort Edward, &€. 
The French officer delivered an other letter from Montcalm ac- 
quainting Col: Monro that he came from Europe and Should Carry 
on the war as a Gentleman and not as the Savages do " but like a 
true Frenchman, both broke his word and Articles of Capitulation 
as will appear in the Sequel of this relation. During this interval 
the Enemy made a Shew of all their Indians, about 1200, on a ris- 
ing Ground about 250 yards distance bearing S: W: which [while] 
their Engineers reconitred our old Camp Ground which was after- 
wards a great Advantage to them. As soon as their Officer 
returned they began their fire in good Earnest which we returned 
with the utmost bravery. This day we Split two of our heaviest 
Pieces of Cannon (viz! 32 pounders) and our largest Mortar was 
rendered useless which was very unlucky for us as we could not be 
Supplied with others in their place. This day Col? Monro pub- 
lished his orders to all in the Fort that if any person proved cow- 
ardly or offered to advise giving up the Fort that he should be im- 
mediately hanged over the walls of the Fort and he did not doubt 
but the officers in the Garrison would stand by him to the last and 
that he was determined to stand it out to the last or as long as two 
Legs were together. 

Sunday 7'." The Enemy continued plying us very hard with their 



1S98.] HAYS — THE SIEGE OP FORT WILLIAM HENRY. 149 

Cannon and Bombs while the Compliment was returned by us with 
all our Artillery, still hoping for a Reinforcement from Fort Ed- 
ward. A Shell fell into the South Bastion broke one man's Leg and 
wounded another; Split one of our i8 Pounders and burst a Mor- 
tar. Several of the Enemj'^s Shells fell near the Camp S. S E of our 
Fort about 400 yards distance and on a line with the fort from the 
Enemys two Batteries, so that their Shot missing the Fort could 
Strike the Camp. It appeared that the Enemy could throw their 
Shells 1300 yards. A Shell fell amongst the officers whilst at din- 
ner, but did no other mischief than Spoil their dinner by the dirt 
it tore up. Another Shell fell into the east or flag Bastion and 
wounded two or three men. 

Monday 8'^ We now began to believe we were much slighted, 
having received no reinforcement from Fort Edward as was long 
expected. The Enemy were continuing their Approaches with 
their Entrenchments from the 2'^ Battery towards the Hill on our 
old Camp Ground, where they were erecting a third Battery, which 
would have greatly distressed us : There were frequently during 
these last 2 or 3 days smart skirmishes near our Camp, but we beat 
them off the Ground. This night we could hear the Enemy at 
Work in our Garden, on which some Grape Shott was sent in 
amongst them, which had good Effect as it drove them off, however 
they had got their 3*^ Battery almost finished by Day Light. 

Tuesday q'I* This Day the Enemies Lines were finished, parallel 
to our West Curtain in the Garden, Distance about 150 Yards. 
Col° Munro, after a Council of War had been convened, wherein 
the Officers were of Opinion, that the Loss of our heavy Cannon 
viz! 2, 32 pounders, i, 24 pounders, two 18 pounders, one 9 
pounder & 3 Mortars bursting would render it impossible to defend 
the Fort much longer, as the Enemies Batteries had increased and 
our Metal failing us, & no help coming, wherefore it was thought 
advisable that a white Flag should be hung out in order to capitu- 
late ; which was done accordingly, and the firing ceased : The 
Enemy very readily granted the Capitulation : had Monsieur Mont- 
calm been a Man of Honor, he would have performed his part ; but 
instead of that such a Scene of Barbarity ensued as is scarce to be 
credited : After the Articles were agreed on & signed, the Officers 
left the Fort to a Regiment of the French Regulars who were ready 
at the Gate, thro' which we marched with most of our valuable Effects 
& Arms to the Camp and in the Evening three Companies of the 



150 HAYS — THE SIEGE OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY. [April 15, 

35 '? Regim* had marched out & th^ other three Companies were 
on their march out of the Breastwork, when we received Orders to 
return to our Posts again where we remained till next morning. 

Wednesday lo'.'' Tliis morning the Marquis MontCalm being 
desirous of our being eye witnesses of how well he was able to per- 
form his part of the Capitulation (see the 7'? Article), the In- 
dian Doctors began with their Tomhawks to cure the sick and 
wounded. They began to seize on all the negroes and Indians 
whom they unmercifully draged over the breast work and scalped. 
Then began to plunder Col? Youngs and some other officers Bag- 
gage on which Col° Monro applyed to Montcalm to put a Stop to 
these inhuman Cruelties but to no purpose, for they proceeded with 
out interruption in taking the Officers Swords Hats Watches Fuzees 
Cloaths and Shirts leaving quite naked and this they did to every 
one they could lay hands on. By this time the 35* Reg' had almost 
formed their line of March and the Provincials coming out of the 
breast work the French officers did all they could to throw them 
into Confusion alledging as soon as the Indians had done stripping 
them they would fall on and scalp them which thru [jzV] them in a 
panick that rushed on the front and forced them into Confusion, 
the Indians pursued tearing the Children from their Mothers 
Bosoms and their mothers from their Husbands, then Singling out 
the men and Carrying them in the woods and killing a great many 
whom we saw lying on the road side. The greates[t] part and best 
of the plunder was brought to the french General. Our officers did 
all in their power to quiet our Soldiers advising them not to take 
notice but suffer themselves to be stript without Resistance lest it 
should be Construed as a Breach of our part of the Capitulation 
and those that were in the rear "Should fall a Sacrifice to their un- 
bounded fury. Those therefore that had been able to perserve 
their arms carried them clubed. The French it is true had a 
detachm! of their men drawn up as is mentioned in the i^ & 6'? Arti- 
cle of Capitulation but their only business was to receive the plun- 
der by the Savages. 

Finis, 



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